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Queen Elizabeth II and the Pope chat at Vatican

This picture released by the Vatican press office shows Britain's Queen Elizabeth (L), accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip (C), as she greets Pope Francis at the Vatican, on April 3, 2014.Photo: OSSERVATORE ROMANO/AFP/Getty Images

VATICAN CITY — Queen Elizabeth II — bearing a basket of honey, whiskey and other goodies from the royal estates — paid a visit to Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday. The pontiff returned the courtesy with a gift for Prince George, Elizabeth’s great-grandson.

The Argentine-born pope presented the queen with a stone orb topped with a sharp cross, saying it’s for “el ninetto” — a term of endearment for little child. Elizabeth said George “will be thrilled by that — when he’s a little older.”

The exchange of gifts capped a private meeting of just under 20 minutes between Elizabeth, her husband, Prince Philip, and Francis — with communication facilitated by an interpreter.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh exchange gifts with His Holiness, Pope Francis, during an audience in the Pope’s study inside the Paul VI Hall on their one-day visit to Rome on April 3, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Francis did say “Welcome!” in English when the royal couple arrived about 20 minutes late for their appointment.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Elizabeth told Francis. “We were having a very pleasant lunch with the president.”

She was referring to Italy’s head of state, Giorgio Napolitano, who hosted the queen and Philip for lunch at the presidential Quirinal palace.

The white-gloved monarch arrived earlier in the day in Rome wearing a lilac-colored spring coat and hat that matched the wisteria blooming over much of the Italian capital.

Previously, Elizabeth had met with four pontiffs, starting with Pius XII in 1951, a year before her accession to the throne.

Pope Francis welcomes Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (not pictured) for a private audience during their one-day visit to Rome on April 3, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Elizabeth is head of the Anglican church. There was no immediate word on what was discussed in the meeting with Francis, who is in his second year as pontiff.

Elizabeth told the pope that the jar of honey in the wicker picnic hamper “is from my garden” at Buckingham Palace. “I hope that is unusual for you.”

Francis looked startled when the prince held up a bottle of Balmoral whiskey from the royal estate in Scotland. Among other goodies were a bottle of cider and a dozen eggs.

The queen’s day in Rome was a makeup visit. Illness had forced her to cancel a 2013 trip to Rome.

“She doesn’t like leaving obligations unfulfilled so she was determined to reinstate that visit,” Britain’s ambassador to the Holy See, Nigel Baker, told Vatican Radio.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, have an audience with His Holiness, Pope Francis, in the Pope’s study during their one-day visit to Rome on April 3, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican. During their brief visit The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will have lunch with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

During their brief visit The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will have lunch with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican.